Novartis says MS drug cut risk of disability advance in study

Novartis’s investigational multiple sclerosis drug cut the risk of disability progression in patients with a tough-to-treat form of the disease versus a placebo, the Swiss company said on Saturday, citing a new analysis of a late-stage trial. Novartis is testing BAF312 against secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), which includes patients whose relapsing-remitting MS moves to a new phase characterized by a progressive worsening of neurologic function.

The Basel-based drugmaker joins crosstown rival Roche in targeting MS with new drugs. Roche’s investigational Ocrevus has shown efficacy against relapsing-remitting MS as well as primary progressive MS, for which there is now no approved treatment. Some analysts contend Novartis’s BAF312 is an underappreciated part of its drug pipeline that promises to help the company shake off recent challenges including the sluggish launch of its Entresto heart failure drug and a sales slump at its Alcon eye care and surgical instruments division. “We think BAF312 now has a 60% chance of $3 billion peak sales. An effective drug in SPMS would have a huge impact,” wrote David Evans, of Kepler Cheuvreux, in a note to investors this month after Novartis flagged the positive study in late August. On Saturday, the company presented more-detailed findings at the Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis in London. There, it told neurologists and other attendees that BAF312 demonstrated “a consistent reduction in the risk of confirmed disability progression across predefined subgroups, including patients without relapses.” — Reuters